Big Questions with Cal Fussman

Michael has sold more than a million copies of his book: The Coaching Habit. And now he's releasing one called: How To Work With (Almost) Anyone. Both topics come up in Cal's freewheeling conversation with the Rhodes Scholar which reminds Cal of the back-and-forth at Larry King's breakfast table.

We all have childhood dreams. Many of them elude us as we age and take more practical roads in life. This episode focuses on Mario Garcia's decision in his early fifties to go all in on his childhood dream: making a movie. It's called: The Throwback, and stars Will Sasso from Curb Your Enthusiasm. Mario wrote the script, fundraised, directed the film, and produced it. It got a standing ovation when it was shown in Ybor City after Mario's conversation with Cal. Listen to how Mario did it, and see what YOU might be capable of achieving if you decide to go all in.

That's a nice and soft way to title an episode with the author who wrote the book STFU. That's short for: Shut The F--- Up. The Power Of Keeping Your Mouth Shut In An Endlessly Noisy World. Dan gives tips on how to listen more and get the most out of conversations. He explains that people who have the most meaningful conversations tend to be happier. And if you know someone who can't stop talking, pass this podcast along . . . in the nicest way, of course!

This podcast has implications for all who work. It's important to know how "workquakes"​ ​are coming into our lives more and more frequently, pushing us to change jobs and even​ ​head for new professions. Feiler, author of the book: The Search, Meaningful Work In A Post-Career World, tells us how we can expect a "workquake" every two and a half years, and what this is doing to the very definition of the words work, meaning and, as a​ ​consequence, loyalty. This podcast will change the way you see the world around you.

After being advised to immerse himself in artificial intelligence, Cal asks ChatGPT for help in finding just the right gift for his upcoming wedding anniversary. This episode is a comical gift for everybody, as it demonstrates how AI can be used in nearly every facet of life. Enjoy it!

Cal talks with one of the stars on the sitcom Modern Family, who along with actor Eric Stonestreet, portrayed gay family life in a humorous way that made us smile and laugh, and gathered the appreciation of much of the American public. Same-sex marriage laws were granted around the country during the course of the show. Cal talks with Jesse about being gay, the show, the changes it inspired, and the tension that erupted recently when transgender influencer Devin Mulvaney was positioned as the centerpiece of a Bud Light campaign. Jesse has a lot to talk about, which means it's the perfect time for him to start his own podcast. That's exactly what he's doing. It's called: Dinner's On Me. Enjoy the conversation.

It turns out that there is one area in America where nearly everyone is in agreement: there is a mental health emergency. There are many reasons for this. They can be related to substance abuse, lack of meaningful connections, depression, financial stress, abuse, traumatic experiences, pressures and anxieties attached to body image and the internet along with a lack of access to mental healthcare. Andrew Frawley, the marketing director for Andrew Yang's presidential campaign in 2020, wants to make it an issue in the 2024 campaign to get urgent reform. He's founded The Good Life Movement. Listen to Cal and Andrew talk it over. The Good Life starts here.

Nobody loves great quotes more than Cal. So it's no wonder Cal was smitten by Kevin's latest book: Excellent Advice For Living, Wisdom I Wish I'd Known Earlier. The book and this conversation with the founding editor of Wired magazine delivers thoughtful advice on all areas of life. Like this: "When a child asks an endless string of "Why" questions, the smartest reply is: "I don't know, what do you think?" And this: "Don't ever work for someone you don't want to become." And this: "Travel to passions rather than destinations." And this: "If we threw our troubles into a big pile and we saw everyone else's problems, we would immediately grab ours back." And this: "Recipe for greatness: Become just a teeny bit better than you were last year. Repeat every year." And lot's more . . . Enjoy!

Gary grew up in Wisconsin and never saw salt water until he was 21 years old. He's been making up for it ever since, at one point traveling around the globe for nine years and becoming one of the world's most celebrated photographers and travel bloggers. Now he's got an awesome podcast called Everything Everywhere Daily. His talk with Cal rekindles the love for travel that Cal had when he went around the world as a young man for a decade without a home. Gary tells Cal – and everyone listening – the best places to see next. Bom Voyage!

Imagine waking up one day as a teenager with golf ball-sized glands under your neck, under your armpits and your groin; your tongue swollen, your heart racing and your eyes puffed and nearly shut. That was the case for Stephen Cabral. For a couple of years, physicians couldn't figure out what was wrong with him. The experience sent him on a path to learn about himself, heal himself, become a board-certified doctor in naturopathy and a proponent for integrative health care. If you have a health problem that is not being resolved, this podcast is for you.

Ryan has been a natural leader ever since he was seven years old and he was plucked out of a bunch of kids on a football team to be quarterback. He starred in high school, then moved on to college and arena league football. But his gift for guiding a team downfield has been amplified by his podcast – where he gets the most out of CEOs, coaches, entrepreneurs and others in conversations about leadership. It's called The Learning Leader Show. After 500 episodes, Ryan's mind has become an encyclopedia of leadership tools. Use them well.

Cal discovers that some of his key attributes – curiosity, creating comfortability and connecting – equally apply to negotiations. And that maybe he has talents for an area in life that he often avoided. Mori is the author of the book: Being Yourself, How To Harness The Power of Connection To Negotiate Fearlessly. She is also a faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business. See what this episode can do for you!

Cal is introduced to an app that pairs photos with new contacts, and immediately senses that the young founder of the company that built the app would be an ideal guide into the new landscape of technology. His name is Anjun Rai. His company is called​ ​HelloWoofy.com. If you'd like to know where tech is going, c'mon along. . . . You can see the visuals of some of Arjun's tips by going to calfussman.com and clicking YouTube.

Cal talks with a man who many people see as the ideal banking coach to understand the recent turmoil in the banking industry. Paul McCaffery is a Managing Director at Keefe, Bruyette and Woods, where he has spent more than 20 years advising in the financial sector. He explains how a perfect storm can come together when government policies, banking decisions and the speed of technology enables depositors to move billions of dollars in a short amount of time. And how that storm that can pummel even relatively strong banks. This conversation is a banking tutorial for everyone.

Cal tells the harrowing story of two college wrestlers who walked straight into a Grizzly bear near Yellowstone Park last year. Then asks: What would you do if you were in a similar situation?​​

As technology connects us more and more, we tend to find ourselves more and more disconnected as humans. The numbers back this up. We're working alone in remote locations. We're seeing one another attacked on the internet over political beliefs. We're spending less time with the people we love than we did years ago. Fifteen percent of males in America say they have no friends, and women who don't know each other are meeting and walking on the streets of New York during weekends for some sense of attachment. Cal talks with the author of The Power of Ritual, Casper ter Kuile, to see if rituals are the key to restoring our connections.

Phillip Stutts, a political marketing guru who has helped engineer more than 1,500 election wins including three presidencies, had 650-million stem cells injected into his esophagus to combat Achalasia. This disorder destroys the nerves and muscles in the esophagus which normally push food down toward the stomach -- and makes it difficult to eat. Phillip's experience gives us a look at the medical frontier at a time when stem cell treatments have reportedly cured HIV. His moonshot approach will give a lot of hope to a lot of people.​​

Everybody loves a great comeback story, and this is one of them. Rick came to Florida as a boy in a family of Cuban immigrants. His parents never made a salary of more than $11,000 a year. An elementary school teacher labeled Rick "retarded" because he couldn't speak English. Rick went on to become one of CNN's most viewed hosts in the early 2000s until some comments he made about the power structure of the networks sent him into an unemployable freefall. The situation was dire, but it led him into meetings with people who were starting up a health clinic with 100 patients. Cano Health is now a billion-dollar company, and Rick isn't stopping there. Enjoy the ride!

Cal gets some lessons on positivity from the best-selling author on Yes!Attitude and couldn't wait to pass them on. You're guaranteed to be more positive after you listen to this one! Cal is a new man . . .

It turns out that sometimes back pain doesn't originate in the back – it's from a connected area. But that connection can go un-diagnosed and surgery might be recommended for the back. Dynamic Health and Fitness rehabilitates injuries and limits pain through massage, stretching and workouts. Nick Leader explains the functional science approach and points us to a free app that assesses the stability of many of our body parts. Pass this podcast on to somebody you know with back pain, knee pain or hip pain.

Damon Darnall, the president of Sky Eye Network, also known as The Drone Boss, tells Cal how drones will pop out of the ground like sprinkler systems to get medicine and blood to people who desperately need it, save the lives of utility repairmen, come to the rescue of people and pets in hurricanes, protect elephants and conserve thousands and thousands of gallons of water used at golf courses. This is just the beginning. Welcome to The Jetsons.

Cal wanted to remember Larry King on the second anniversary of his passing​ ​through an episode​ ​of Big Questions. The best way, he discovered, is through the​ ​interview James Altucher​ ​conducted with him about the special sauce that​ ​made Larry "The King." Altucher's episode made Cal smile, and will make you, too.

Cal catches up with the man behind Personalfinanceclub.com during a time of inflation, cryptocurrency crashes, a looming recession and a congressional debt-ceiling fight to ask about the best ways to handle money right now. Jeremy's strategies have never disappointed.

Cal was curious about ways to get more out of his time when he heard about Dan Martell's book: Buy Back Your Time. He was stunned by Dan's amazing backstory, which makes the lessons he passes on even more meaningful. Dan coaches CEOs and company founders through SaaS Academy. Buckle your seatbelt for this episode, and get the most out of the 10- 80-10 rule.

Cal talks with the criminal defense attorney who never lost a case and then found the meaning of his life through creating a company that creates amazing chocolates. It's also a company that is changing thousands of lives. This conversation, and Shawn's Book, Meaningful Work, may make you connect with yourself in a new way.

On the day of Pele's burial, Cal goes to the archives for an interview he did with the man many consider to be the greatest soccer player of all time. This podcast gets to the essence of the Brazilian superstar who connected with almost everyone on the planet. Not only did Pele make everyone smile, he once halted a war. After three years of disconnection due to the pandemic, we need to connect now more than ever. Pele shows us how.

Cal looks back at some of the best ideas from expert guests on Big Questions over the last year to live a healthier life – including how to sleep better, how to eat better, how to think better and how to move your body better. Follow this advice and you will have a healthy and happy 2023. Please pass it around to family and friends! And have a Happy New Year!

Cal asks you to reach out to an old friend you haven't connected with in a while because something good is sure to happen. That was the case for Matt McBride who lost touch with his high school buddy, Jason. Then private investigators reached out to Matt to represent him in the settling of a substantial estate after the death of his father whom he barely knew. Turns out the private investigators connected Matt to his old buddy Jason – and that Jason had been living near Matt's father and partying with him before Matt's father passed. This is just the beginning, and it all leads to the founding of a healthcare company that is making patients' lives easier. It's called Mend.

Every day, ten thousand people in America turn 65. Every 57 seconds, cognitive problems are diagnosed. And the worst part is forty thousand healthcare workers treating the elderly left the industry during the pandemic. For every 43 job openings to take care of the elderly, only one person is now available. The good news. Robots are on the way! Check this out!

When Joel was eleven years old, he was struck on the street by a car driven by a woman who was looking at her cellphone. When Joel woke up, he saw a man chalk-marking his body on the pavement and he thought he was dead. He wasn't. The emergency crew was leaving evidence for the police report. This was the first of a series of unfortunate events that turned out to be very fortunate because of the way Joel sees the world. He's earned millions of dollars as an entrepreneur by finding the right opportunity in every difficult time. If a recession is coming, this podcast is the perfect preparation. Enjoy!

Nearly every hour, an infant or young child chokes to death or dies in an unexpected accident. When Mark Wilhelmsson saw his two-year-old gasping for air while eating some fruit slices, it changed his life . . . and the lives of a lot of other parents. Mark's son survived. And the information Mark accumulated can protect your family. Please pass this episode on to parents who are expecting children and who have little ones.

The approach of Thanksgiving is the perfect time to hear about the 73-day, 4,200mile bike ride Kari Loya took with his 75-year-old father who was at the early stage of Alzheimer's Disease. They rode along the TransAmerica Bike Trail from Yorktown, Virginia to Astoria, Oregon. Their trip reminds us to get the most out of the time we have with those we love. Enjoy.

Cal speaks with Glenn Livingston, the author of the best-seller about concrete steps to avoid overeating. This episode comes at the perfect time. Cal often finds himself reaching for more and more during the sumptuous holiday season. Glenn's tactics enabled him to lose 90 pounds and still eat pleasurably. Get more out of your holiday season this year by eating a little less. You'll also be able to get Glenn's book free over the internet

Cal looks to discover if there is anything in our ordinary lives that mirrors the fear and purpose Matt Bromley feels when he surfs 50-foot waves. Cal arrives at an unexpected place that shows him how he can have much impact.

Not long ago, Sev MacLaughlin was working as a waiter in a polyester tuxedo. Listen to how the death of his father sent him on a mission to develop artificial intelligence that can predict illness in advance of modern medicine. Kidney disease. Diabetes. Cardiovascular disease. The predictions of DeLorean AI have twice been validated by third-party labs. And now the company is working on early identification and solutions for mental health issues. The story of Sev's mission will inspire anyone who has a dream to make a difference in the world, and direct everyone to a service that will catch illness early, save lives and hopefully bring us more hugs with those we love.

After losing 30 pounds through a slow and methodical change in diet and portion size, Cal sets off to follow the same strategy with exercise. Basic body movements at the start that don't call for lifting stacks of weight or exercise to exhaustion. With more than 70 percent of Americans overweight or obese and not moving, this may be the only feasible start toward solving the problem. The movements Michael Ockrim of Mighty Oak Athletic passes on are as easy as lifting a can of beans. But with steady increases they can lead to huge breakthroughs. If you know someone who's not getting out of a chair or off the couch, please pass this on.

Cal gets some tips from a man whose life is dedicated to helping people get a good night's sleep. Whatever age or sleeping situation you're in, Devin has probably studied it. And he has many solutions. After listening to this episode, you'll definitely sleep better.

Cal talks with the man who evolved from drinking a six-pack of Coca Cola every day as a boy to the author of Superlife: the 5 Simple Fixes that will make you healthy, fit and eternally awesome. Darin is also the co-host of the television show Down to Earth with Zac Efron, where the two go adventuring around the world to find healthy and sustainable ways to live. You may eat a little differently after listening to this conversation.

Listen to some amazing surgery stories this week about what it's like to operate on a child's brain from Dr. Jay Wellons, a pediatric neurosurgeon at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt and the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Jay is a gifted writer as well, as anybody who's read All That Moves Us can attest. Once the harrowing stories are told, Cal asks the neurosurgeon how he stays healthy amid the persistent tension. It's a question that probably applies to everybody who's worked in healthcare during COVID, and it calls for everybody's attention.

Morphogenesis has an immunotherapy treatment that has worked in five out of five clinical trials on skin cancer and it's nasty cousin, Merkel Cell cancer. The company's CEO, Dr. James Bianco, says that the treatment may work against any cancer. But he doesn't want anyone calling it The Cancer Vaccine. Cal gets some insight into the potential breakthrough, and the leaps we're making in the fight against cancer. If you know someone who's been touched by cancer, check this episode out. That means everybody.

​​Rich Palarea's introduction on Twitter reads: "I won't sleep until I fix $ waste in healthcare." Cal listens to the story of how Rich became CEO of Kermit, a company that uses technological transparency to reduce costs on surgical implants for hospitals. The conversation reveals how little we know about what goes on behind the scenes in some operating rooms. It also gives us hope that applying transparency across all aspects of healthcare will make life better for everyone.

Cal takes a moment to pause and reflect on moments he had with two icons who said farewell recently in very different ways. Tennis great Serena Williams ended one of the most impactful careers in the history of any sport at the U.S. Open and the man who lifted The Iron Curtain, Mikhail Gorbachev, took his final breath at the age of 91. Cal tells two stories that showcase the origin of their influence. They both revolve around hugs. We should all take note.

Cal takes a moment to honor those impacted by the attack on the World Trade Center that killed more than 3,000 people in 2001. He replays his conversation with Michael Wright, who was working on the 81st floor on the morning the planes struck. When Michael made it down to the street, one of the twin towers collapsed on his head. Cal replays Michael's vivid description in this episode for two reasons. So that we'll never forget the day, as well as to alert us to the terrorist threat of this era: Fentanyl. This synthetic opioid is 50 times more powerful than heroin and much more inexpensive to produce. It's responsible for the death of more than 200,000 people in the USA over the last two years. 9/11 is a poignant alert that something needs to be done about Fentanyl. Now.

Many people have avoided going to the doctor during the time of Covid . . . unless they had Covid. This may have resulted in missing an early detection of cancer. So this podcast is a reminder to all those who've delayed checkups to make an appointment. Cal gets an exam, and now has peace of mind. He also puts the podcast to a checkup. Marketing guru Jason Harris, the CEO of the creative agency Mekanism, enters the conversation to show Cal that it's time for Big Questions to grow to wear many hats. Cal responds by setting in motion a non-profit to attack problems in healthcare. The Best Is Yet To Come. Thanks for coming on the journey.

Cal has spent his life writing stories and telling them on stage. Big Questions started after he told stories for three straight hours on Tim Ferriss's podcast. But Cal finds a new power in storytelling through Harvard's Annie Brewster, a physician who used her own story to help heal herself after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis roughly twenty years ago. Annie went on to start a non-profit to help others understand their health problems through storytelling, and this conversation gives Cal the seed of an idea . . . and may help you, too.

Until this week, Cal never knew that more than ten percent of the people who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776 were physicians. Doctors are now found in tech roles that can bring exponential improvements to the masses. Amazon's Adam Glasofer is a great example.

Johnny Crowder is motivation to all when it comes to changing the way you think about your health. He's actually rewired his brain to get the best possible behavior from himself. His life is an extreme example of overcoming mental health problems. But the work he's put in to understand the human brain can be used by anybody who needs to overcome ANY problem.

For a couple of years now, Cal has been asking questions to get to the root of why we're all so disappointed with aspects of healthcare. This week, he speaks with a man whose created a game-changing solution which puts people back in control of their care with high-quality experiences at lower prices. It's called Transcarent. Listen up . . .

Matt Hollingsworth, the CEO of Carta Healthcare, has had a sense of the way healthcare can Impact a family's financial health since . . . well, perhaps since he was in the womb and his mother was diagnosed with cancer. She refused chemotherapy to protect him. Matt's life has been deeply influenced by his family's battles with cancer. It's common knowledge that one of every two Americans has medical debt and that medical debt is the leading cause of bankruptcy. But beyond that, Matt explains to Cal what our $4 trillion annual spend on healthcare is doing to your paycheck. A fresh look at a topic that is hard to get a grip on.

Cal is introduced to a man who's orchestrated 4,000 college scholarships to students from low-income areas and who plans to extend 30,000 scholarships through an organization called Hope Chicago. This gets Cal to thinking about helping one child to become a doctor at a time when one in five healthcare workers has left the field during Covid. Pete makes that scholarship happen for Cal and Big Questions, and leaves Cal wondering how to generate 49 more!